I was once at a book signing Terry Hope Romero was doing in my hometown in NJ where someone approach her and ask about making salads. Terry said that she’s not a big salad person, and she doesn’t eat them very often. So last year at Vida Vegan Con, I was quite surprised to learn that she was working on a cookbook devoted solely to salads. But she said the book would be about “salads that don’t suck”, and that made a lot of sense to me. When Lisa Simpson decided to go vegetarian many years ago, Homer and Bart paraded around the living room chanting, “You don’t win friends with salad! You don’t win friends with salad!” but if Lisa had a copy of Salad Samurai back then, I’m sure she would have won quite a lot of friends, because the salads recipes found within its pages most certainly do not suck.
I’ve received quite a few new vegan cookbooks to review recently, and Salad Samurai is definitely the standout in the bunch. It’s full of drool-worth photos, creative recipes, and the book design is gorgeous, which, as a graphic designer, I really appreciate. Terry starts the book out with some basics, such as meal planning, recommended kitchen equipment, how to press tofu, and a glossary of ingredients that might not be familiar to the vegan newbie. The first few recipes chapters are full of recipes for dressings and salad toppers, including marinaded tofus, homemade croutons, and even a hemp seed parmesan.
The salad recipes in Salad Samurai are divided by season, which makes total sense, since produce is seasonal. I most certainly wouldn’t want a butternut squash salad in the middle of July, just as a dish featuring blueberries wouldn’t appeal to me in the dead of winter. It also makes it possible to continue with the healthy habit of eating daily salads through the cold months, when lettuce is probably the last thing on your mind. Some of the really creative dishes include Pepperoni Tempeh Pizza Salad (which is on my list of recipes to make this week), Grilled Goji Seitan Salad, and Chimichurri Chickpeas & Chicory.
The first recipe I tried in Salad Samurai was the Asparagus Pad Thai Salad. The combination of rice noodles, baked Lemongrass Tofu and Toasted Shallot Dressing cried out to me when flipping through the book’s pages and I wasn’t disappointed. This dish had a crisp, springtime flavor to it, and was hearty enough for dinner. After that, I made Pesto Cauliflower and Potato Salad. This dish was a refreshingly light spin on the classic potato salad, which can often seem heavy and a little too dense for summer meals, when it is traditionally served. I took this salad on a weekend picnic along with vegan sandwiches, and it was the perfect side dish.
Backyard Buffalo Ranch Caesar Salad was next on my list. There was a bit of buzz in the vegan blogosphere about this salad, so I had to find out what the hubbub was. This salad seems simple, but the combination of spicy tofu, creamy cashew dressing, crunchy croutons, and fresh vegetables is out of this world. Backyard Buffalo Ranch Caesar Salad is the reason I haven’t tried more recipes from Salad Samurai – I just keep making this one.
Salad Samurai is a great book for everyone who loves fresh veggies and wants to go beyond salads full of limp lettuce, mushy tomatoes and bland vinaigrette. With Salad Samurai, you most definitely will win friends with salad.
I have a copy of Salad Samurai for one lucky Chic Vegan reader. Follow the instructions below to enter. Contest ends at midnight Eastern time on Thursday, July 24th. U.S. and Canadian residents only, please. Good luck!
I don’t get too fancy with my salads. I love a lot of fresh veggies and olives. I MUST have olives! :]
Favorite salad is always pasta salad ( does that count?)
I love grain based salads, especially with quinoa or cold brown rice.
My favorite salad is fresh mixed hearty salad greens, with baby arugula, cucumber, chocolate bell peppers, purple carrots, purple cabbage and mixed cherry or grape tomatoes, all organic from my local Saturday farmers market, with Organicville sun dried tomato and garlic dressing, and sliced Gardein crispy tenders on top, with hemp hearts for added goodness.
My favorite salad is ribbons of kale, cucumber, and chopped avocado tossed with hemp seeds, garlic, sea salt and fresh lemon juice. If I have a good tomato, I throw that in. Simple – but it’s the bomb diggety. Also, I think I should win this cookbook because I am a huge fan of your cats on Instagram. Jus’ Sayin’.
I’m not entering the give away ’cause I already have the book. It’s seriously awesome!! I’ve made 2 recipes from it and can’t wait to make every.single.one. Usually I get a cookbook and there are a handful of things I can’t wait to make, and some that look good, and a whole bunch I’ll never make- but not this one, they all look incredible!
I love Protein Bar’s Superfood Vegan salad with marinated organic tofu, chopped kale, toasted pepitas, chickpeas, and house-made Creamy Chia dressing over their Super 6 Salad Mix. I don’t mean to sound like a promoter but it tastes so clean yet filling!
I just like lots of greens and herbs with organic Italian and tomatoes
My favorite salad is Panzanella, perfectly ripe home grown tomatoes, stale whole grain bread, fresh basil and a garlicky vinaigrette. Holy YUM!
Favorite salads would be vegan cesaer
Thanks for this giveaway and great review. I want this cookbook so badly…:)
My favorite salad is one full of fresh veggies from my garden with lots of spinach, kale, tomatoes, cucumber, black olive and artichoke…and chickpea or grilled tofu.
Anything with avocado!
Anything with kale and avocado and sungold tomatoes and lentils… and everything.
Spinach Strawberry salad with seeds and vinaigrette dressing…yum!
I <3 chickpea salad!
I Dreena Burton’s curry almond kale-slaw salad.
I like all kinds of salads but beans always make it more of a meal.
Potato salad is definitely my favorite!
Chopped! Baby greens and kale, seedless cucumber, yellow pepper, tomatoes, scallions, garbanzo beans, salt, pepper, olive oil or coconut oil with fresh lemon for dressing. Delish!
Forgot craisins, must have craisins!
I make an Asian style salad with a panera dressing recipe that I modified.
Chickpea “tuna” salad!
Caesar salad (vegan), hands down.
Baby greens, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, carrots, sunflower seeds, phoney baloney bacon, fresh cracked red pepper with balsamic dressing = my fave salad
I’m loving quinoa salads lately! 🙂
We love salads and you can never have too many salad recipes. They are especially great in the summer.
My favorite salad is usually a bunch of avocado, chickpeas, and olives
I put this in my Amazon wish list a few days ago and am also shopping for a spiralizer. It has been my preoccupation lately that I need to make colorful, flavorful salads the main course in my nutritional life. I hope we are the beginning of a salad revolution. Viva la ensalada!
My favorite salad is a kale salad.
I like crunchy salads with lots of raw veggies.
My favorite salad is pasta salad! I made one a few minutes ago! Yum!
My favorite way to create a salad is the have a “Chopped Salad Bar” at home. Ingredients often include: Romaine, Iceberg, cucumber, zucchini, carrots, corn, black olives, red onion, avocado, apple, garbanzo beans, sunflower seed, tofu and a homemade vinaigrette. This gives my husband and I an opportunity to customize our salads depending on our moods. It’s delicious and super fun to build 🙂
Bean salad with fresh corn & string beans from farmers market. Scallions and red or whit beans. Fresh parsley and yum!
Avocado, kale, lemon juice, evil and crunchy sunflower seeds
that is tough. prob thai cashew quinoa salad
I love Israeli salad. Tomatoes, cucumbers, flat leaf parsley, red oinion, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. So simple, but crazy good.
Any kind of greens with avocado, walnuts & cherry or grape tomatoes.
I love arugula salad – so peppery and delicious! I love putting black beans, corn, tomatoes and avocadoes on my salad. I also love making my own dressing creations out of lemon and dijon mustard or hummus and fresh basil or lime and basil. I could eat a salad every day and never get bored – you can do so much to change it up! Trust me – no one has ever gone hungry after one of my salad feasts!
I’m a plain jane when it comes to salad, just lots of veggies and red wine vinegar. I am okay with that, but sometimes I do wanna spice it up!
My favorite salad comes from Oh She Glows: http://ohsheglows.com/2013/11/25/the-best-shredded-kale-salad/
The few ingredients it contains are *magical* together.
kale salad or chinese chickn salad
I love taco salads!! Spicy and cool. Add some avo for creamy goodness
I love a meal in a bowl salad: beans some dried fruit, shredded cabbage, kale carrots broccoli, cooked mushroomsand onions, balsamic vinegar….ym!
Lately my favorite salad is a chickpea salad that comes out a lot like chicken salad. Great on its own or in a sandwich.
Fav salad…something crunchy and sweet! Lettuce with fruits and a nice home made dressing.
My favorite salad is a Rainbow salad. Filled with colorful fruits and vegetables.